Blogging about Blogging not about Israel

I’ve been using the Houston Belief blog space for several years. When I moved my blog here originally, I knew that there would be certain nuances that I would have to change because the audience would be much broader and not all Jewish. But, I was anticipating exposing non-Jews in our very diverse city to Jewish practices and customs, to issues affecting Jews around the world and to many Israel-focused topics. All in all, it was hoped to be a win-win situation.

What I didn’t expect was the vicious replies that would often come as a result of many, many of my postings – some having to do with Israel but many having nothing to do with Israel. And, while I am not naïve, I really could not imagine that, in Houston, Texas in the 21st century, individuals would actually post replies that were anti-Israel, verging on anti-Semitism to almost every single posting. It was and is mind-boggling.

A few days ago, I posted what I thought was an interesting but innocuous message about the strategy to designate Houston as a destination point for young Orthodox Jewish families seeking to leave the tri-state area for a more settled, cohesive and affordable Jewish community. ALL the initial responses were rabid anti-Israel and save a few replies to those responses, I was mystified how individuals could take such an innocuous post and transform the space into a debate about Israel.

As I reflect on that posting and the replies, I wondered whether those same individuals (and it is usually the same suspects) would also respond to a blog about nothing. So, this is a blog about nothing. Here you go – have at it. Don’t expect a response from me as I’d rather expose your stupidity to the world or at least those that read these missives.

Am Yisrael Chai! [For the usual suspects, you’re on your own to figure out what these three Hebrew words mean.]

If you read the Oslo Accords, all subsequent agreements and Dennis Ross’ book “The Missing Peace”, you’ll see what was OFFERED to the Palestinians by the Israelis but REJECTED by the Palestinians which included 97% of the “West Bank”.

Israel is also the only country that has lived for the past 64 under a constant existential threat. Show me another country that lives with CONSTANT DAILY terror attacks on it’s civilians and deals with it in a more humane way. We have the ability to do so much but our restraint is precisely why our military is called the Israel Defence Force. And for that restraint we pay dearly – with the lives of our friends, siblings and parents who serve with such courage and who’s lives are cut far too short because the general Palestinian policy is to not be satisfied until the Jewish people are extinct. This is a generalization – I have some good friends who are happy to live in peace with Jews and I am aware that there are many innocent Palestinians who are being hurt by Israels’ actions – but unfortunately they are a necessity to ensure our safety from Palestinian terrorists. And by the way, tell me, how exactly do the Palestinians uphold the Geneva Conventions?